I need advice about diabetes in dogs.
They are keeping her today to do blood work every hour...I guess to determine the amount of insulin she will need daily...this has hit me like a ton of bricks. She is almost 10 years old and had ZERO medical problems...ever. My Max is lost without her in the house and does not understand why she did not come back home with me. It's hard not to think the worst but I hope to feel a little better once I know more about the problem. Anyone else dealing/dealt with this? |
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I am so sorry  it is hard to accept but dogs (and cats) can do amazingly well on insulin. Tasker had blood work this summ and the Vet said his blood glucose was borderline. We are having it rechecked in a few months and will talk about it them.
The Vet assurred me that dogs can and do live many years on insulin, and thankfully it is not a real expensive drug. Keeping them at a healthy weight and avoiding table scraps is also important. |
| If the insulin works she will be fine. I know of lots of dogs with this and are doing great. One of my moms dogs the vet thought that was the problem all the signs but way to fast, even starting to go blind all this in a few weeks at the age of 7. The meds did not work so they knew it was more, it was cancer. So hugs when they have the meds she will feel alot better too. Glad you notice, its awful to have to pee all the time. For anyone. |
| uuuuughhhh. What a crappy diagnosis.
Joan (Spouse of Administrator  ) also has diabetes. She manages it very closely.
It is now "just another management task" that you'll have to take on. I knew a guy when I was working who looked at his own diabetes this way, and it worked for him. Hopefully Stella Blue will do really well with a little insulin every day. My deepest sympathies to you. |
| Thanks for all the info and the good vibes. I'm reading a lot about this (it's only been a few hours since the diagnosis) and am sure we can get on top of this...it really depends on how bad it is...we will find out when we pick her up later this afternoon.
I just hope it's not too expensive...we are not wealthy by any means but we will do whatever it takes to keep my Stella comfortable...she's given me millions of dollars worth of love over the last ten years...don't even want to think about the alternative. If anyone else has any info, please share and as always, this is the best forum for education and entertainment. |
| I'm sorry about this diagnosis.
I bet your baby will do fine once they figure out the best insulin levels. If shots are required, the vet or techs will teach you how to give them. If you haven't given them before, they are a little scary but you WILL do just fine. Having information may help to ease some of your fears/concerns. Here is a very good website on diabetes in dogs... http://www.caninediabetes.org/ Please keep us posted on how she's doing. Best wishes to you and Stella Blue. |
| You might also consider including a red tag on her collar that indicates she's a diabetic along with the vets telephone number in an emergency. We never plan for our furry family to be lost or stolen... it might help to keep her safe. |
| This is a really good page!
I like the way it is straight forward. http://www.caninediabetes.org/caninsulin.html I found the section on sterilization for females particularly interesting. |
| If you look at the bottom of the following page at this site there are more links including how to give a shot... and it has pictures!
Y'all know 'bout me and my love of pictures 
http://www.caninediabetes.org/cdinsulin.html Learning as much as we can about a condition just seems to take away some of the fear of the unknown. |
| the way diabetics work is that they do what is called "glucose curves" at the vets hospital. Your dog will be there all day and it shows what his sugars do. Based on that they will start him on one of the insulins and give you a certain amount to give and show you how to give it. Then the next week he will go in for another curve to see how the sugars are on that particular insulin, from there they will either increase or decrease the amount of insulin. Once he is regulated, and with dogs it doesnt take that long, you will only have to come in once every 3-6 months just to do a check up and see how things are going. They have a really good life and all on diabetes. Side effects of having unregulated diabetes including going blind and so it is better to start the regulations early and since you just only found out you guys are in great shape. |
| OES4ever...you're pretty much right on the money...I feel better about this now...yesterday I was a basket case...thinking it was a death sentence...but just as you said, we started her on insulin last night 22 units every twelve hours and giving the injections is a snap. We go in next Friday for another all day session to check levels.
It's 500 dollars I didn't have but my Stella has freely given me a million dollars worth of love the last tens years...at no charge...so this is the least I can do...I'll find the money somewhere. EBAY here I come....AGAIN! |
| Stella had a episode last night after we played her favorite game of pulley...I grab one end, she grabs the other and we pull...been doing this since she was a pup.
We came back in the house and my wife noticed she was staggering...her back legs were very unsteady and she became lethargic. I'm sure she went Hypoglycemic. I have to admit this scared the crap out of us but I kept my head and offered her white Karo corn syrup which she readily lapped up. In about a hour she seemed back to normal...at least she was steadier on her feet. I'm realizing that it's gonna take a while to find the right amount of insulin....but to see her in any kind of distress is heart stopping for sure. I will not exercise her quite as much as usual although exercise is supposed to be important in the treatment phase. It's all a little confusing but I vow to stay on top of this...she is my heart |
| Did the vet recommend Karo Syrup for a low blood sugar? That's pretty thick stuff, and I think it's corn syrup?
I haven't ever treated a dog with diabetes, but I have treated my wife for 20 years. For people, glucose is the treatment of choice, as other sugars need to be converted to glucose first (even though that is pretty quick). There are glucose tablets you can feed your dog -- you can buy them in a big jar from Wal-Mart (Pharmacy area). I think each tablet is 4 grams of glucose so 4 tablets should do the trick, followed by a little solid food of a longer acting nature (like some rice). Apple juice seems to work fairly quickly, as does purple grape juice. They make a glucose gel that you should have handy that can be used if your dog is unresponsive, you would put some under the tongue and in the cheek to be absorbed by the skin there. Of course if your vet has told you otherwise, go with your vet's recommendations. |
| Karo syrup was recommended by the vet...he said to keep it handy just in case...the idea is to get it in her mouth and let it be absorbed...and this is in case she is unresponsive...but last night she took it just fine and it seemed to have the prescribed result.
We are on edge about every little thing she does now...watching her like a hawk. |
| An hour seems like a very long time.
I guess maybe you are right and should limit (not get rid of) exercise for a little bit while everyone is getting used to the insulin. Watch for the symptoms to try to catch them early as possible. sigh. |
| In conjunction with her lapping up the Karo Syrup, rub some onto her gums, It has a faster absorption rate than when it goes through the digestive tract. You should see a quicker response. |
OES4ever wrote: In conjunction with her lapping up the Karo Syrup, rub some onto her gums, It has a faster absorption rate than when it goes through the digestive tract. You should see a quicker response.
That's what we did at first...then she found out she likes it! She goes back for another full day of blood work on Friday. |
| Well good to hear that the karo worked, Im sure that the curve on friday will give the doctor an insight as to how your pup is doing and go from there. Definitely mention the episode that happened because they may change the amount or type of insulin right on the spot. Good luck. |
| GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
| Excellent news!
Stella had her hourly glucose curve at the Vet yesterday and when we went and picked her up, the vet said it was perfect! I almost cried because i was fearing they would have to put her on the really expensive insulin that costs a hundred dollars and lasts only 8 days...I did not want to be put in that position...but as it stands she gets 22 units of Humulin N twice a day..40 dollars a bottle that lasts about 20 days. We've taken this very seriously and with her diet change and insulin, we've got her under control...goes back in 6 weeks for a serum fructosamine assay...a simple blood test. Thanks to everyone for all the good vibes... I was freaking out last week. We ALL feel better this week. |
| WOOHOOOOOOOOOOO! SO GLAD! |
That is wonderful news. 
Keep up the good work - you are doing great! |
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